St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-08-07
NATURAL GAS.
1t Exists in Great QuantitiesSNear
Albert Lea.

IVA
Special to the Globe.
ALBERT LEA, Minn., Aug. 6.-FOr
several years reports have been circu-
lated in this city that natural gas was
found by farmers, i'll digging wells a
few miles northwest of here, and two
years ago the editor of the Standard in
vestigated the matter and published ac-
curate accounts of the wells and showed
that one well accidentally ignited on the
farm of f. ID. Drake burned
for three weeks. But little
interest was taken in the subject, it
being simply looked upon as singular
phenomenon. Within the last few
weeks. however, several of our citizens
have awakened to the Importance of
the matter. and have been fully inveSti-
eating it, the result being discoveries
that are as remarkable as they are im-
portant and valuable. They found that
three wells. Oh different farms, lately
sunk, produced flow Of gas that
was immense in volume, and
which. when the veins were struck,
forced itself into the air a distance of
from ten to fifty feet, making roaring
that was heard nearly half mile.
When lighted the gas burned with
great lltlItlltSS anu DIllildItNN- db
lighting the land around for a consider
able distance. Some wells produced
such a flow of gas that they were filled
up as useless, and several now used for
water pour forth continual streams of
gas. which when lighted burn in great
flames. These were tested by the pros
pectors, and the ineXhauStible presence
of great VEINS and reservoirs of natu al
gas was proven. The gas area is about
three miles wide and seven miles long.
So far as determined it IS found from
forty TO sixty feet beneath the surface,
in the strata or veins. the lower vein
beng the best. Several years ago
\ COMPANY WAS FORMED
and sunk a shaft III this belt for coal,
the indications being strong that it eX-
listed there. A thin vein was
discovered, and also stratum
of gypsum. when the enterprise
was abandoned at a depth
of 146 feet. The waters of lake sur
rounded 10y the gas belt at times are
very black, and oily matter appears on
its surface which has the Odor of coal
oil. 4 company of citizens, composed
of W. 2. Sergeant. II. w. Todd, e. S.
Prentice, c. c. Dwight, d. f. Morgan,
j. P. Hoviand, ". c. McAdam. J. p.
Parker and a few others, yes
terday decided to take prompt
steps to secure mining rights to
the lands i'll the gas belt, and at once
started out They returned to-day, hay
ing secured the right to mine and sink
and operate gas wells on 10000 acres of
land. They will go to work Monday
with competent well diggers to sink a
shaft and pipe it, and have ordered,
also, from the East expert workmen
and all the machinery necessary
to successfully prosecute the bust
ness. y company will be formed
with capital of S5,0O0,0OO and
if the gas proves as ineXhauStible and
valuable as the tests indicate, pipes will
at once be run to this city for lighting
and heating. to adjacent cities and even
to st. Paul and Minneapolis. This is
no fanciful story, no boom enterprise,
and natural gas unqueStionably exists
here in great quantities, and the under
ticking to develop it is genuine. There
III much excitement here over it, no one
acquainted with the facts expressing
any doubt of the great significance of
the developments.